Outlet box



A118- 28, 1934. J. M. G. FULLMAN *1,971,908

OUTLET BOX Filed May 19, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet L MWI@ IIS-awww l.

Aug- 28, 1934 J. M. G. FULLMAN 1,971,908

OUTLET BOX Filed May 19, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 J. M. G. FULLMAN OUTLET BOX' Filed May 19, 1932 Plaie.

4 Sheets-She-et 4 33 Plazo.

IN ENTOR ATTORNEY5 y Patented Aug. 28, 1934 OUTLET Box James M. G. Fullman, Sewickley, Pa., assigner to National Electric Products Corp York, N. Y., a corporation of ADelaware A Application May 19, 1932, 'serialNm 612,215 Y2 claims. f (o1. 247-15) This invention relates to improvements in outlet boxes and more particularlyto the types of outlet boxes commonly known as gang boxes in which two ormore electrical devices are mounted upon the box. Suchelectrical devices are customarily mounted upon the raised cover of the box and such boxes are made in various sizes 'depending upon the number of devices tobe installed upon the coversthereof. It isnalsothe practice to-employ different kinds of covers for the same box body. VFor example vboth athree gang coverand a fourgang cover-may bealternatively mounted upon` the same box body. ARecently there has been a demand for partitions in these boxes to correlate separate devices to different compartments in the box. For example, 110 volt circuits may extend into the box for certain services, and sixvolt circuits are desirable `for buzzers, indicators, etc.` As ank illustration with power radio sets, one box compartment may be desirable for the serviceoutlets'to 110volt tubes and another compartment is Vdesired for t ecutlets for the aerial and ground. l

The requirement for partitions insuch gang boxes has hindered the interchangeability ofthe cover because of having to take into account the `location of the outlet'openings into the box and the location of lthe device mounting lugs upon the box covers. It may be explained that previous forms of three and-'four gang covers have had their mounting lugs 'spaced land disposed 'symmetrically to the center linesofthe'covers so that upon mounting the devices upon the covers the devices mounted upon a three gang cover would be disposed in a different relation to the box than would be theY devices mounted upon a four gang cover. In fact so far as their relative location to the box proper is concerned the center lines of the devices upon a three gang cover would assume a relation midway betweenY the center lines of devices mounted upn avfour gangV cover. Such' discrepancies have precludednthe simple disposition of partitions and have pre'- cluded a uniform spacing of knockouts. fFre quently partitions interferedfwith knockout openings and to meet the varied' demand for such boxes a great varietyof special components were required. Different boxbodies with different knockout arrangements and different covers were required. c i

'I'he present invention has for its object the provision of animproved gang box with improved interchangeable covers, an` improved arrangement of knockouts and improved partition receiving meanstothe general end that various eration, New

covers may be placed upon one andthe same box body and yso that various partitions may be variously disposed-in the Vbox body and still maintain non-obstructing and non-interfering relations one with the other. v

Another object of the present invention resides inthe provision of an improved varrangement of box elements which will greatly reduce the number of assemblies which are required to be'kept in A Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a'set of interchangeable box forming elements vcomprising 'a single Vbox'body,

two sizes and forms of cover and removable par- 'titions'to nt the s 'tofbuild up different box assemblies as desir-ed.

ame to enable' individual users upon a box body; Fig. 3 is a side and box body;

elevational view of box cover Fig. 4 is a View lsimilar to Fig. 2, but with a modied form of box cover and with a straight partition installed in the box body;

Fig. 5 isla sectional view taken on line`5l5 of Figs. Gand 7 are perspective views of thev partition members ad showing an offset apted for use in the box, Fig. 6 partition, and Fig. 7 showing a straight partition; y

Figs. 8 to 20 inclusive show different manners of assembly of the box Acomponents including the cover portion shown in,Figs. 2 and 3; and the partition lelements respectively show elevational views 11 and 1.2 are a of Figs. 6 and 7; Figs. 8 to 10 top, side elevational and end of one typical assembly; Figs. top`view and side elevational view of another assembly; and Figs. 13 and 14,

Figs. 15 and 16, Figs. 17 and show other assemblies.

Figs. 21 and 23 Figs. 4 and 5.

Figs. 19'and 20 arefplan views; and Figs. ,122

land-24: are corresponding Vside elevationalyviews of otherV assemblies utilizing the box cover of Fig. 25 shows'one Vmodified arrangement' of partition supporting lugs which may `be `em..

ployed.

In more detail t he box bodyor bottom portion and removable partition memberathe side walls of the box are provided with inwardly deformed lugs providing therebetween partition receiving slots 34, and 36. Such lugs can be arranged as shown in Fig. 5 or multiple single lugs in staggered relationship may be employed or combinations of pairs and single lugs may be used as shown in Fig. 25. By referenceto Fig. `11,4, it will be noted that the slots 34 are disposed midway vbetween the two left hand pairs of knockouts 33,

slots 35 are disposed midway 'between the twoV center pairs of knockouts and slots 3.6 are dis.L

posed halfway between the right hand pair of knockouts. This arrangement is of particular utility in afiording a selective disposition of thev it having straight slot engaging edge portions and an offset central portion 42. The offset cen'- tral portion may be provided with an opening therethrough as indicated at 43 for uses where a .device is to be accessible from both sides thereof. Alternatively the opening 43 may be omitted and may be closed by an offset connecting platelike portion 44 as shown by the dotted lines at the top of the figure. The form of removable partitionshown in Fig. 6 likewise is provided with the lleted lower corner portions 38 andv With the upper notched corners 39. Such offset partition -plate is adapted for selective disposition in any of the partition receiving slots, -34, 3-5 or V3 6.

Interchangeable covers One embodiment of interchangeable cover is shown in Figs.2 and 3. This cover 48 is provided with suitable openings and slots` to receive the fastening screws -46 which thread into the cover securing lues 31.. The cover' is provided with the customary raised intermediate .portion 49 which in turn is provided with a number of perforated threaded lugs 50, 51, 52 and 53 for receivingv the devices to be mounted upon the cover. By referring to Figs, 2l and 3, it will be noted that. the center lines of lugs 50, 51, 52 and 5 3 coincide with thel center line of the knockouts 33 and that the partitionreceiving slots 34, 35 and. 3-6 are midway between the threaded lugs 50, 51, 52A and 53. y A

Figs. 4 and .5 show another form of interchangeable cover 48a. The fastening parts are the same as before and similar. reference numerals apply if.` e. 45. The raised part 49a. of the cover is of a form to receive three devices and lis provided with lugs 51a, 52er.Y and 53a, the position of which. with respeot'to. the; box: conforms to the position of lugs'51, 52 and 53. It will understood, however, that the cover can vbe turned end. forced. in which case the-...53a lues would assume the cxtreme lefthandposition to the left of slots 34 and in alignment with the lefthand knock-outs. 33. zwwould then assume the position between 34 and 35, and 51a would assume a position between 35 and 36.

Figs. 8 to 16 show some alternative dispositions of partitions. In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 the offset parttion 40 is used and applied in slots 35. The offset provides ample clearance affording access through the 33 knockout to the right to the right handfcompartment of the box.

Figs. 11 and 12 show the offset partition in reversed relation, i. e. with the offset part 42 to the left instead of to the right as in Figs. 8 and 9. Parts 40 are still' engaged'with slot 35.

Figs. 13 and 14 show other relations in which the offset partitions may be disposed, i. e. 40 can be placed in slots 34 with 42 to the right or 40 may be placed slots 36 with 42 still to the right.

Alternatively the oifset partition may be placed reversely as in Figs. 15 an-d 16 with 42 to the left.

From the foregoing it will be seen that whichever way the oifset isv disposed, ample clearance Will be `provided to the knockout openings'.

Other of the .manvpossible partitioncombinations are shown in Figs. 17 to 1,9. In Figs. 17 and 18 straightpartition 37 is in slots 34. In Figs. 19 and 20 the offset partition is in slots 3.5` and the straight partition in slots 36.

Figs. `.21 to 24 show some of the relations in which the oii'setxpartitions may be placed with the 4three ,gang typeof cover. Fig. 4 showsy a straightr partition 37 Yin the l35 slots..

The foregoing alternative assemblies and others which will be self apparent are obtainable lby the use of the constructions herein set forth.

To summarize, the partition receiving slots are disposedas follows. Qne pair 35 Vareupon the center line of the box and Athe others 34 .and 3,6 are symmetrically equi-distant therefrom. vThe knockouts are alsoy symmetrically disposed with respect to the center line of the box as are the lugs 5.0, .51, 52 and 53 in .the four gang cover typeand the threey gane cover type 1uss 51a and 52a are symmetrically disposed with respect tovv slots 35.

With the outlet box partition receiving means and plurality of covers related as set forth it will be annieri-:iatedV that interchangeability of covers is secured Without detracting from the possibility of varably positioning the. partition or partitions in the box.v 'liheV device mountinglugs kof each vcover are in a maintained and same relation to Vthe box. irrespective of which ,coverl is used and such` device mounting lugs properly position a device in proper relation to the compartments in the box provided by the partition or partitions.

Whilel the knockouts have been shown'on uniformcenters `with the center lines thereof coinciding with, the device mounting lugs and while the slots havev been shown as disposedpmidway between the device mounting lugs and midway and spirit of the present invention as set forth the appended claims.

What 1 claim is:

1. In an outlet box, in combination, an open box portion .adapted to enclose aplurality of electrical devices and having a'ccrrelspcnding plurality of knockout meansspaced along the box portion, so, that, said knockout means` are respeetively disposed for direct centralized registration with the corresponding electrical devices, said box portion having partition-holding means intermediate adjacent knockout means adapted to receive a removable partition transversely of the box portion; and a partition adapted to be removably disposed in said partition-holding means and having an offset central portion for providing enlarged device-enclosing space on one side of the partition and constructed to permit access to adjacent knockout means on both sides thereof, said partition-holding means being adapted to receive and removably hold said partition with its offset portion extending toward either end of the aforesaid box po-rtion, whereby the partition is reversible at will.

2. In an outlet box, in combination, an open box portion adapted to enclose a plurality of electrical devices and having partition-holding means adapted to receive a removable partition transversely of the box portion and intermediate electrical devices enclosed in the latter, and a partition adapted to be removably disposed in said partition-holding means and having an 01T- set central portion for providing enlarged deviceenclosing space on one side of the partition, said partition-holding means being adapted to receive and removably hold said partition with its offset portion extending toward either end of the aforesaid box portion, whereby the partition is reversible at will.

JAMES M. G. FULLMAN. 

